1985

...for performances. For white-and-black image. For a story who reflects the rhytm and atmosphere and expectations of a period. For message. And for the emotions ball after its end. A confession - film . Not original, not great. But useful and beautiful. Bitter and large circles of problems, from motherhood and fatherhood to old close friendship and relation between brothers, from gay life and coming up challenge to shadows from "Death of a Salesman" to the indie love stories. Short, a film for feel it. The job of Jamie Chung and Virginia Madsen defines, in splendid way, this special-special drama.

The cinematography is simple, yet gorgeous. The story is simple, yet affecting. The performances are simple, yet moving.

A little goes a long way.

Edit : the historyline isn't something new. I had trough the entire movie the feeling that I've seen it all before, somehow I felt more connected to the trailer than to the movie itself, but it was beautiful and sensitive

Wholesome and heartbreaking all at once. One of the most beautiful films I've even seen.

This is one of the bravest films I have seen. It stares at the subject of AIDS in the face and there is none of the ' look how well meaning I am to be in a film like this ' which can be found in such films as ' Philadelphia ' and even in some independent films which have been made over the years. All the actors are perfect in the roles and the desperation of the knowledge that death is near shown with delicacy and insight. The film's simplicity of approach is its strength and the use of black and white focused on the family issues in a way that reminded me of the concentration of Ingmar Bergman at his best. As film it worked, the black and white accentuating the draining away of colour in lives devastated back then when what I call a Holocaust was at its worst, and little hope was in sight. I do not want to single out a single actor because each and every one of them played with a sincerity rarely seen on film. In most films there are ' leads ' but there were none here, and the nearest image I can draw on is a tapestry of the times for us all to look at and to learn from. Even today stigma remains, so look closely at that inter-weaving of lives and ask yourselves how you would have behaved in 1985, so near in History, and how you would behave now. I also agree with some comments here that this film does not have a higher rating. Or for that matter there have not been more user reviews. Even disregarding the subject matter the film is compelling, beautifully made and acting that is first rate.

This film is quite good. The movie portrays the struggle with being gay and the family dynamics during the AIDS crisis in 1985, but not with a flashy Hollywood style, but from a realistic and personal side.